By: Erika Perkins

What is Autism?
A group of complex disorders of brain development. Characterized in different degrees.

social interaction Verbal and non verbal communication Repetitive behaviors

http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism

www.childandfamilypsychologist.com

What is Autism?
excel in visual skills, music, math, and art. It is associated with intellectual disability.

difficulties in motor ordination attention and physical health issues sleep and gastrointestinal disturbance
http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism

www.katecollins2003.wordpress.com

Autistic Syndromes/Disorders
Autistic disorder Rett Syndrome Childhood disintegrative disorder Pervasive development disorder Asperger Syndrome

http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism

www.sparklinsister985,webs.com

How common is Autism?- Stats

1 in 88 children are on the autism spectrum 4 to 5 times more common in boys rather than girls

1 out of 54 boys 1 out of 252 girls

Girls

Boys

Affects over 2 million individuals in the U.S. Affects over tens of millions worldwide 10 to 17% annual increase in recent years

http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism

Autism Development
The roots of Autism start in very early brain development. The most obvious signs of Autism emerge between 2 and 3 years of age.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism

www.myaspergerschild.com

What causes Autism?

There is no one answer. recent research. Associated with a number of rare gene changes or mutations Most cases appear to be caused by a combination of Autism risk genes and environmental factors influencing early brain development.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism www.sfari.org

What causes Autism?

nongenetic or environmental stress appears to further a childs risk Evidence of these risk factors involves

events before and during birth Advanced parent age Illness during pregnancy Oxygen deprivation to the babys brain

These factors by themselves do not cause autism( they increase the risk) rather in combination with genetic risk factors
http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism www.coachmattindland.com

Reduce the risk of Autism

woman can reduce the risk of having a child with autism by taking parental vitamins containing folic acid(600 mcg a day) during the pregnancy.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism

www.specialedabuse.com

Autism on the spectrum

DSM-5 Diagnostic manual- diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders The Spectrum is how the categorize how strong a childs autism is.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism

www.barnesandnoble.com

Autism-higher on the spectrum

Significant disability Possibly unable to live independently 25% are nonverbal but can learn to communicate using other senses.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisautism

www.cdc.gov

Autism- Communication

The parent needs to learn how to communicate the autistic child more than the child does with the parent. There are 5 basic ways to know what a child with Autism is saying and they all have to do with senses. A child may learn a few words and then loose them around 18 months during the regretion period. They will most likely not relearn these words and will forget what they mean.
Regretion Period- when your progress goes backwards,

loose language, social, and other developmental skills.(usually around the second year of life)
http://www.reveaseautismnow.org// www.epilepsrfoundation.org

Communication- 5 basic ways

The only communication barrier people with autism have is language, but all other senses are multiplied.
Sight
Hearing Touch Smell Taste
http://revearseautismnow.org//
www.beneaththecover.com

Communication- sight

Hypersensitivity to light particular interests in certain colors or patterns They like parts of toys instead of the whole thing because they are fixed on the color, pattern, or both on that part od the toy Bright artificial lights(like the ones in a supermarket) are irritating because they produce a glare that puts a strain on their eyes and makes them work harder. If the lights are in a pattern on the ceiling, it is even more stressful because they may see pictures or skeward images. This is why they look out the corner of their eye at times.
http://www.revearseautismnow.org// www.artfire.com

Communication- sight
Flashing lights from a TV, computer, ect. can also cause stress. autistic children are also epileptic(can have a seizure at any time) Certain lights and patterns can induce a seizure very easily. understanding these things will help you communicate with an autistic child as their body language will indicate if the lights or patterns affect them in any way.

http://www.revearseautismnow.org// www.123rf.com www.oregonlive.com

Communication-hearing
Hearing is a powerful sense to an autistic child Something as simple as running water can cause a meltdown Simple noises that we all hear are very distinct to an autistic child. They ring in their ears. People think that they are out of control if they throw a fit , but really they just cant take all the little noises.

http://revearseautismnow.org// www.growingyourbaby.com

Communication- hearing
All the little noises in the background that most people can block out , they cant. They hear it all. They cant just turn it off. All the noises go in at once and become chaos If they throw a fit , cover their ears, or acting anxious, the noises are getting to them Noises- cricket, TV, fish tank, Furnace running, clock ticking Story- NY cricket in side walk

http://www.revearseautismnow.org// www.shfamily.com

Communication- touch
Touch is not the best way to communicate with autistic children Many kids with autism have altered signals pulsating through their nerves.

This makes simple tasks such as hugging or

getting dressed very painful.

The ache feeling your body has when you have the flu, is exactly what they experience all of the time They must dress in clothes that are light, not noisy, and have no crazy colors.

http://revearseautismnow.org// www.autism.lovetoknow.com

Communication- touch

They will undress themselves if the clothing is bothering them too much. The feeling of hunger is 10 times more extreme in a child with autism Self abuse and biting lip or tung is a signal of hunger When an autistic child has compulsive eating with no weight gain, intensed senses, food textures trigger gag reflex- girl- rett syndrome- boy- lescn nyhan syndrome biggest problem- hunger while smelling food, yet not being able to eat
http://www.revearseautismnow.org//

Communication- smell
Smelling is a very strong sense with an autistic child Not many scents get past unnoticed Food scent triggers hunger Smell 10 times stronger Perfumes, shampoos, food, dirty animals

http://www.revearseautismnow.org// www.123rf.com

Communication- taste

Food is either extremely good and extremely bad

http://www.revearseautismnow.org//

www.languageguide.org

Communication
Overall the senses are just more amplified Everything is coming at them at once which is very overwhelming. This causes the meltdowns and self abuse.

http://www.revearseautismnow.org//

www.clker.com

Autism
remember that there are many different levels of autism. The levels can be so minor that you would never even know that the child had autism. Most of this information is based on high leveled autism.

www.catalystsforhealth.com

Work Cited
Perkin,ErikaWhat is Autism. Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks inc. accessed 16 May 2013 Revearseautismnow.org.2009. RevearseAutismNow 22 May 2013.<http://revearseautismnow.org//aut ism-and-communication-5-ways-tocommunicate.html>

Picture Cited

www.letschatautism.com www.childandfamilypsychologists.com www.Katecollins2003.wordpress.com www.sparklinsister985.webs.com www.myaspergerschild.com www.sfari.org www.coachmattindland.com www.specialedabuse.com www.barnesandnoble.com www.cdc.gov www.epilepsysunction.org www.beneaththecover.com www.artfire.com www.oregonlive.com www.123rf.com www.growingyourbaby.com www.shfamily.com www.autism.lovetoknow.com www.fotosearch.com www.languageguide.org www.clker.com www.catolystsforhealth.com